Fox Valley takes its parks plan to voters

The Fox Valley Park District Board has authorized a $33 million March referendum. If it is approved by voters, the money would be used to expand district facilities.

A 64-member citizens committee formed in July recommended a plan that includes a new community center, expansions at two others and four new parks. The plan was unanimously endorsed by the board and trustees decided Monday to seek the referendum.

A new community center would be built on Aurora's west side. It would include the Park District's first indoor pool. The Prisco and Eola Community Centers would be expanded to accommodate growing enrollment and four parks would be built.

If voters approve the referendum proposal, the district's tax rate of 44 cents per $100 of assessed valuation would remain the same for the next 12 years, said Bob Vaughan, the Park District's executive director. If they reject it, the tax rate would drop next year by 8 cents, which amounts to savings of about $37 a year on a $150,000 home.

In a 1999 survey, 76 percent of respondents wanted a center on the west side of the district, which would serve about 170,000 residents in Aurora, North Aurora, Montgomery and nearby unincorporated areas. The center, which would be built on 2 acres the district owns north of Indian Trail Road between Orchard and Randall Roads, would cost about $19.8 million.

The district currently rents the North Aurora Activity Center on the west side, but the 1930s-era elementary-school building is inadequate, Vaughan said.

At Prisco in central Aurora, participation in senior citizen activities has increased dramatically, and the parking lot is too small, Vaughan said. The additions of between 20,000 and 25,000 sq. feet at Eola Center and between 10,000 and 15,000 sq. feet plus lot expansion at Prisco would cost about $4 million each.

In the survey, residents also called for more parks. The district's six parks typically are reserved for all summer Saturdays and Sundays by the end of April.

The parks in northwest and east Aurora, North Aurora and Montgomery would cost a total of $3.5 million. Architectural and engineering fees for all the projects would add about $1.7 million.